Doctoral Study Proposal: Selecting a Research Design for Your Study

Gathering and analyzing data to address the research question may be the most daunting part of the doctoral study. Will you spend your time in front of your computer or interacting with people? Will you use software or mathematical applications to interpret your findings? Ultimately, how will you substantiate your solution(s) to your research question so that other people will feel confident in your conclusions?

Investigate either quantitative or qualitative research techniques in order to explore and discuss the techniques that you may ultimately employ in the service of your research question.

• Identify and argue what you think is the best fit of research design for your proposal: either qualitative or quantitative.
• If you select qualitative, which traditional method will you use and why?